El Anatsui (Ghanaian, born 1944), Crowd Awaiting in 10 pieces, carved wood relief with acrylic 76.5 x 100.5cm (30 1/8 x 39 9/16in). Image courtesy of Bonhams
El Anatsui (Ghanaian, born 1944), Crowd Awaiting in 10 pieces, carved wood relief with acrylic 76.5 x 100.5cm (30 1/8 x 39 9/16in). Estimate: £15,000 – 20,000. Price Realized: £62,500 / US$ 98,406 inc. premium. Image courtesy of Bonhams
BY KAZEEM ADELEKE
LONDON- Works by a small group of trailblazing artists whose lives bridged the gap between Africa and Europe were recently on sale at the Bonhams Africa Now-Modern Africa Auction. Artists whose works were presented at the auction included Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu, El Anatsui, Twins Seven-Seven, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Yusuf Adebayo Cameron Grillo, Uzo Egonu, Barthélémy Toguo, and several others.
Following on the heels of the great advancements made by African artists in the global art market, there were high hopes that many of the carefully selected works would achieve record auction prices. About 100 works were put on sale during the Modern African Auction, and 61 were sold. In total, the auction realized £851, 813.
Topping the Modern Africa art sale was Anyanwu Simplified, a sculpture by Ben Enwonwu. The sculpture measures 137 x 22 x 18cm (53 15/16 x 8 11/16 x 7 1/16in) excluding the base. The sculpture is a variation of the bronze sculpture that the artist produced for the National Museum of Lagos in 1958. It went for £74,500 (US$ 117,300) inc. premium.
African Dancers, also by Ben Enwonwu, got great attention when it was presented at the Modern Africa auction. The oil on canvas painting, measuring 105 x 114cm (41 5/16 x 44 7/8in), sold for £68,500 (US $107,000) including premium. The painting features dancers showing intricate steps.
Although works by Ben Enwonwu topped the Modern African Auction, they were not the only ones that got the necessary attention. Works by El Anatsui, a famous Ghanaian artist also did well. His piece titled Two Hands and Two Feet sold for £62,500 (US$98,406) inc. premium. The relief sculpture employs colors and symbols traditionally used for Asante Adinkra cloth.
Bata Drummers by Yusuf Adebayo Cameron Grillo, one of Africa’s celebrated artists, sold for £56,250 (US$ 88,565) inc. premium at the Modern Africa Auction. The oil on canvas painting measuring 123 x 92cm (48 7/16 x 36 1/4in), pays homage to the Yoruba bata ensemble that is traditionally associated with Sango, the thunder deity.
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